Adventurer of the Year Rob Gauntlett Dies in the French Alps
Photograph by Martin Hartley
Update: Here are some details about the accident from The Independent and the New York Times.
It is with heavy hearts that we pass along the worst kind of news: The BBC reported Saturday that Rob Gauntlett, who shared the 2008 Adventurers of the Year award with James Hooper, was in a fatal accident while climbing the dangerous east face of the 13,937-foot Tacul peak in the Mont Blanc mountain range in the French Alps.
Rob and James won the Adventurer of the Year award for completing a 26,000-mile journey from geomagnetic pole to geomagnetic pole (read the feature article or watch a video about their remarkable feat). Rob was the youngest Briton to summit Everest at the age of 19.
"We were extremely saddened to learn of Rob's death," said Editor in Chief John Rasmus. "Many of us at ADVENTURE got to know him over the course of a few days for our Adventurer of the Year event [at the National Geographic headquarters] in November, and he was a great guy—full of life and confidence and good humor. He would have had an amazing life ahead, I'm sure, but the one consolation I can extract is that he was really enjoying the present, and how he was living his life, and he appreciated every aspect of it. I'm sure he'll be missed by many—especially his parents and great friend James—for a long time."
Rob was a young boy but a great man.Full off will-power and motivation a example for many others.Thanks that we may now and admire you. rest in peace
Posted by: Rudy belgium mountaineer | January 18, 2009 at 05:36 AM
Expressing my sympathy for this heroic guy!!!
I bought for first time the National Geographic magazine just for read the article related the amazing journey of Hooper and Gauntlett, and today reading this tragic news, make me think that he left a big presence in the hearts who knows about them.
This world needs more people like them, so you have all our warmest thoughts.
Hoping that other young people follow their steps!!!
Posted by: Mani Sierra | January 17, 2009 at 09:58 AM
I miss him so much... I traveled with him on the Pole to Pole expedition.... we were all next to each other 24/7 and like I always said, he was the alpha dog. After the pole to pole expedition, booster my motivation to expand my limits... My friend who is blind, his guide dog and I, we set 5 records by climbing the tallest mountains in the US and Mexico.... we cycled across Texas and From the US to Mexico City, and all that with him on mind... soon, we are gonna embark in another expedition where we are gong to cycle from Alaska to Baja... then from los cabos I will swimm 180 miles to Mazatlan and then cycle to Cancun... upon reaching Cancun I will swim 430 miles to Key West in Florida.... I know he will be on my mind and he will guide me all the way....
Miss you Robie......
Diego Gonzalez Joven
Posted by: Diego Gonzalez Joven | January 14, 2009 at 09:16 PM
My condolences to his family and friends. In a world where many young people never venture beyond the television screen, Rob was a true adventurer and will continue to inspire many to live in the present. Thank you.
Posted by: andre | January 13, 2009 at 05:06 PM
He had a dream and he achieved it, for all great men and inventions started out as dreams.
To me he lived life to the fullest and died doing what he loved the most, his live was complete, lets all look up to what he achieved with pride and cherish the moments and memories you got to share with him.
For those how criticize remember he has made history he,s a legend, however history has already forgotten you.
Posted by: George Lewis | January 13, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Arrogance is both a strength - to push people to achieve - and a weakness - where people become overconfident and forget their limits and take risks. People with family commitments are doubly self-centered. The death statistics on all major peaks speak volumes; those who die almost always deserve it for continuing on, where others would turn back to live another day.
My heart goes out to the family; but is anybody surprised. I'd have given you 5:1 this would happen within 2 years.
Posted by: Al | January 13, 2009 at 03:05 PM
That is just terrible. From what I read he seemed to be an amazing man. He is an inspiration to us all. May he rest in peace.
Posted by: Ashley | January 13, 2009 at 12:29 PM
What terrible news. May god be with his family.
Posted by: JJ Jones | January 12, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Hi Michael, Thanks for your note. The links seem to work for me, but here they are just in case.
Article
http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2008/12/best-of/rob-gauntlett-james-hooper-text
Text
http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/video/player?titleID=1632694871&catID=2#/?titleID=4273418001&catID=2
Posted by: Adventure | January 11, 2009 at 09:24 AM
Howdy, your to links to national geographic appear to be broken. Would really like to check those out. Please respond here in the comments, an tracking responses with co.mments.com. Thanks.
Posted by: Michael Meiser | January 11, 2009 at 03:49 AM